Credit: Christopher Evans

OUT FOR MORE: UMass-Lowell’s top scorer, senior Joseph Pendenza, talks with coach Norm Bazin in the run-up to this weekend’s Hockey East tournament games at TD Garden.

A year ago, UMass-Lowell played like a boulder rolling down a hill, gaining momentum all the way to the first Frozen Four berth in the program’s three-decade Division 1 history. This year, however, the roster contains a combined 15 freshmen and sophomores.

“It’s taken a long time finding our identity,” said UML coach Norm Bazin. “When you’re trying to build consistency and you have so many new faces, it can be tough. Some years, it’s not necessarily a work of art, but I think we’re getting there.”

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